Tom Grimes' brisk-paced play, Spec., first appeared
onstage fourteen years ago as an indictment of
American imperialism following the "conclusion" of
Operation Desert Storm. A few short presidential terms
and a world-altering terrorist attack later, American
foreign policy stubbornly refuses to adapt to
circumstance. Thus, in a revival of sorts, Spec. has
been brought back to the stage via the Alliance
Repertory Company with only the minimal necessary
changes having been made to the script itself.

From the beginning, it's our job as the audience to
catch up with what is going on, and the actors do a
wonderful job making unlikely conversations
believable. As Ted, Tim Abell, blessed with some very
funny lines, humanizes what could be incorrectly
perceived as a two-dimensional character. Through his
conversation with the mysterious Browner (played by
the slightly rigid Mark Sivertsen), we gather that
plans are being laid for a movie to be shot. The
location selection (unspecified locale in the Middle
East) troubles Ted, an investment banker charged with
producing the film, but the money is just too good.

The first act continues at an even pace, the story
begins to enjoyably unfold. However, the question of
whether or not this is an actual movie production or
perhaps a front for darker activities remains. Credit
is due to Spec. director Scott Campbell, who
masterfully establishes the power hierarchy among the
characters. The way that Al (LeMay) orders around Mike
(Gregori) contrasts nicely against his relationship
with the suave, in control Ted.
Rod Rowland, commitedly portraying a gritty,
swaggering pilot with questionable morals, rounds out
the cast. When Browning (Sivertsen) calls in a favor,
he becomes the last addition to a decidedly
interesting cast of characters and the final clue to
the big question of "what is really going on here?"

I
won't do you the disservice of spoiling anything, for
the second act is full of fun surprises that must be
experienced first-hand to be effective.

Spec. is an exciting play that engages its audience
more and more each moment as the plot unravels in a
slow burn. Grimes has placed the current state of the
world under a microscope and examined it, criticized
it and with Spec. he shows us what he sees with humor
and wit. I found myself wishing I could have had the
opportunity to see the first staging, if only to
contrast it with the current format. The most obvious
changes would probably be the deft pop culture
references (Radiohead, Harry Potter). The fact that
after fourteen years it is still as relevant as it was
in 1990 is perhaps the most sobering thought of all.

In this time of political urgency, it is common to
approach anything that deals with issues of war and
national policy with hesitancy. Despite this, I feel
that Spec. can be enjoyed on more than one level, and
it does not set out to be overtly on any one side of
the political fence. Do not play it off on account of
your personal political beliefs. It's a piece that
knows its purpose is not to polarize its audience, but
to entertain and enlighten. To quote Al, "Now this
would make a great movie!"